[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my Democratic 
colleagues and the Democratic leadership for a successful effort to 
push Speaker Gingrich and the Republicans, and force them to bring up 
real campaign finance reform.
  Speaker Gingrich tried to get around his promise to bring up campaign 
finance reform by posting a phony bill with a sham procedure just 
before the April Congressional recess. Democrats responded by signing a 
discharge petition, and forcing the Republican leadership's hand.
  Our Democratic leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), 
was right when he said yesterday this was not a conversion, but a 
retreat by Speaker Gingrich. He now promises to bring up campaign 
finance reform again in May.
  Mr. Speaker, Democrats have to be vigilant and hold Speaker Gingrich 
to his promise. Campaign finance reform needs to be brought up with an 
open rule so that Members have an opportunity to vote on proposals that 
will limit the amount of money in political campaigns, and not allow 
more money from wealthy special interests, and that is, of course, the 
position favored by Speaker Gingrich and the Republican leadership.

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